CF Town Council Meeting: Parking Lot Sale Discussed; Health Dept. Reopening Urged & More
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Clifton Forge, VA (Sept. 14, 2021) - The Clifton Forge Town Council held a public hearing on the possible sals of a portion of downtown parking area known as the Keswick St. Parking lot. The Northwest Ace Hardware Store has shown interest in such a transaction. Vance Overstreet, the hardware store's owner, answered various questions at the meeting.
Various individuals and council members discussed possibilities. The matter will be tabled until a rendering of what is being sought is provided along with an analysis of the commercial value of that request.
Prior to the official session, pastor Mike Simmons of the Oak Hill Bible Church provided an impassioned invocation.
Among other actions, council:
• proclaimed September as Suicide Awareness Month
• approved its usual departmental reports, with mayor Marshall inquiring about the lack of one from the Finance Dept.
• approved a request fro Loving Life Fellowship to block off roads that lead to the parking lot below Milk Street so that a Halloween event may be held on October 31st from 5-9 p.m.
• voted 3-0 with two abstentions on a motion to show support for the town manager. Mayor Marshall and councilman (Bob Umstead were the two abstentions.)
• noted that no letters of specific interest for the vacant seat on the Board of Zoning Appeals had been received - but later heard Dianna Kling-Smith indicate she was interested in it.
• voted to approve $2400 to fund three more months of free movies at the Masonic Theatre
• approved a request from the Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center to close the first block of Commercial Ave. for a Sat., Oct. 2nd (noon to 2 p.m.) for American Craft Week entertainment.
• approved a measure that designated a portion of the Masonic Amphitheatre property for a LOVE sign.
• heard that the town was currently negotiating with Mickey Smith for costs incurred and repairs made on his property at 1503 Chestnut St., which were the result of a town-owned water line leak.
• heard town manager Chuck Unroe note that the old sewer plant property was being looked at with regard to reclaiming some of it for use and an attempt was being made to determine if there was salvage value for property there.
Unroe also told council that a town-owned building on Ridgeway St. needed substantial repairs and that he'd have more on this item later.
Unroe also reminded council that the Shriners were planning on a very short parade on Thursday, Oct. 14th on Ridgeway St., in advance of the planned 50th Fall Foliage Festival on the 15th-17th.
Unroe also told council about the generous donation recently received from Jack Masons Tavern & Brewery of $860 from a recent fundraiser for the proposed dog park. He noted that work on that project would begin soon.
New downtown crosswalk markings will soon be installed, Unroe said, eliminating the need from the current standup signs in those locations.
Apparently, three bids were received to make full repairs for the armory's bathrooms, but they were very far above the amount expected for the job. The low bidder is being contacted in an effort to try to amend the overall plans to bring costs in line, Unroe said.
• heard from Susan Goings about her desire that the Clifton Forge Health Dept. be reopened. The building is currently not in useable condition, town manager Chuck Unroe noted.
(Staff photos by Jerry E. Clark for the AlleghanyJournal.com)
The Journal will have some video of the session coming up later. | | | | | |
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